Curing Hay

[M5farms]

Please tell me the procedure - I cannot think of how to be accurate. The scale tells you how much you evaporated out but how do you know how much moisture is left in?

A paper plate and get 100grams of your forage , I like to cut it 1 inch lengths , put a small glass if water in in microwave . I turn it on high for 1.5 min the fist time and re weigh , then another 1.5 min re weigh , then one more time and it should be very similar weights by now . I will do 30 secs 3 or 4 more times until the weight is consistent. take your final weight from starting weight the difference is moisture %

starting weight 100grams
dry weight 80 grams
moisture 20%

 

[leeave96]

We make squares, but the same applies to round bales. We have a baler mounted Agtronix BH-2 moisture meter that gives us "live" humidity readings of the hay being baled. Coupled with that, we have a baler mounted tank w/pump and nozzles to apply hay preservative - buffered propionic acid into the pick-up. Been using the moisture meter for several years now and this fall, first time, turned on the acid. Works like a champ - highly recommend it.

Our applicator is from Paul B Zimmerman and I think is labeled crop care. The preservative I buy from New Holland, though it's called crop saver, it is the stuff labeled for CAseIH, NH, MF and JD - it is made by Harvestec. Non- corrosive, very effective, easy to apply. Smells like dill pickle chips in the bales; harmless to animals. One of my hay customers fed it out and no issues whatever - though some folks hate this stuff. I'd rather loose a customer than a crop of hay.

That's how I deal with high humidity hay when there's no other choice but to bale it or loose the crop.

YMMV

 

[Texasmark]

its too easy to test moisture with a microwave and a scale.

Problem with this is my fields are highly irregular in shape and density of product both in the growing and in the cuttings lying on the ground. No common ground for an accurate measurement.

 

[Tx Jim]

Mark
Does this high moisture hay have black or white mold? Years back I baled some wheat hay that was in pre-boot stage that laid on ground over 2 weeks. I finally decided it was dry & rd baled it. 2 months later while driving by stack lot I smelled a funny smell. It was the tobacco looking rd bales that were emitting an odor. I fed everyone of the bales to cows with no apparent problems.

 

[cat fever]

Problem with this is my fields are highly irregular in shape and density of product both in the growing and in the cuttings lying on the ground. No common ground for an accurate measurement.

Are you getting mold in all the bales or just the ones that come from a thicker part of the field? I know it's a pain but if so can you bale the thicker areas a day or two later.

I have two spots in my field where it grows thicker. So when I bale, that area seems to not get as dry. I usually have about 10 bales that really want to mold.

I decided, when I think it's time to bale, I wait one more day. This year it worked out good.

 

[Creamer]

Are you getting mold in all the bales or just the ones that come from a thicker part of the field? I know it's a pain but if so can you bale the thicker areas a day or two later.

I have two spots in my field where it grows thicker. So when I bale, that area seems to not get as dry. I usually have about 10 bales that really want to mold.

I decided, when I think it's time to bale, I wait one more day. This year it worked out good.

Don't you lose a lot of leaves waiting the extra day?

 

[Creamer]

Mark
Does this high moisture hay have black or white mold? Years back I baled some wheat hay that was in pre-boot stage that laid on ground over 2 weeks. I finally decided it was dry & rd baled it. 2 months later while driving by stack lot I smelled a funny smell. It was the tobacco looking rd bales that were emitting an odor. I fed everyone of the bales to cows with no apparent problems.

Good point! the tobacco smelling mold is not harmful - in fact it improves the palatability for cows - what does that say about them?

 

[cat fever]

Don't you lose a lot of leaves waiting the extra day?

I could, but for me that is only 2 days total 3 max. Most of my field is Oats, Wheat, Barley/Peas the Alfalfa is the lessor concern for me currently although it does make up maybe 20% of the field. This year I was very happy with how the hay turned out.

 

[cat fever]

Good point! the tobacco smelling mold is not harmful - in fact it improves the palatability for cows - what does that say about them?

Many years ago I had some moldy Alfalfa, it was white and the cows would eat it first then go for the green stuff.:confused3:

 

[CincyFlyer]

Many years ago I had some moldy Alfalfa, it was white and the cows would eat it first then go for the green stuff.:confused3:

Perhaps it was like bleu cheese to them.